No Retreat
Jun 20, 2004
CRANES head coach Mike Mutebi in the aftermath of his side’s 1-0 defeat to Cape Verde summoned his charges to a meeting and there wasn’t a chance of any flying crockery.
By Fred Kaweesi
Group 1
Mali 1 Zambia 1
Group 2
Cape Verde 1 Uganda 0
Group 4
Rwanda 3 Gabon 1
Group 5
Botswana 2 Malawi 0
CRANES head coach Mike Mutebi in the aftermath of his side’s 1-0 defeat to Cape Verde summoned his charges to a meeting and there wasn’t a chance of any flying crockery. Determination, not recrimination, was his theme.
Speaking for almost half an hour, Mutebi reminded his players of their qualities, that it wasn’t in their nature to surrender.
Mutebi, a man who will never admit defeat, began the healing process in a distraught dressing room.
“We talked for almost half an hour to remind ourselves that this defeat was just a one off. It was fate but this is a marathon we can win,†said Mutebi.
“I reminded them to take heart and take the next opponents apart,†he added.
The mood in the team was best described as disappointed but not dispirited and keen to show their next opponents, Ghana on July 3, their true potential.
The pain notwithstanding, there ought to be recognition that this was a decent Cranes performance. It proved a quality exercise in tactical sophistication from Mutebi and his assistant Frank ‘Video’ Anyau, especially in the absence of five key regulars that had started against DR Congo a fortnight ago.
Right back Sulaiman Tenywa was injured, Nestroy Kizito was ruled out due to flight failure, while in attack Abubaker Tabula, Phillip Ssozi and James Odoch missed out.
Faced with such calamity, any team would feel their confidence dip but each of their deputies Noah Kasule, Alimansi Kadogo, Andrew Mwesigwa and Joseph Kabagambe nonetheless proved colossal, that Cape Verde had Ibrahim Mugisha’s gaffe to thank for their sole goal.
Ends
Group 1
Mali 1 Zambia 1
Group 2
Cape Verde 1 Uganda 0
Group 4
Rwanda 3 Gabon 1
Group 5
Botswana 2 Malawi 0
CRANES head coach Mike Mutebi in the aftermath of his side’s 1-0 defeat to Cape Verde summoned his charges to a meeting and there wasn’t a chance of any flying crockery. Determination, not recrimination, was his theme.
Speaking for almost half an hour, Mutebi reminded his players of their qualities, that it wasn’t in their nature to surrender.
Mutebi, a man who will never admit defeat, began the healing process in a distraught dressing room.
“We talked for almost half an hour to remind ourselves that this defeat was just a one off. It was fate but this is a marathon we can win,†said Mutebi.
“I reminded them to take heart and take the next opponents apart,†he added.
The mood in the team was best described as disappointed but not dispirited and keen to show their next opponents, Ghana on July 3, their true potential.
The pain notwithstanding, there ought to be recognition that this was a decent Cranes performance. It proved a quality exercise in tactical sophistication from Mutebi and his assistant Frank ‘Video’ Anyau, especially in the absence of five key regulars that had started against DR Congo a fortnight ago.
Right back Sulaiman Tenywa was injured, Nestroy Kizito was ruled out due to flight failure, while in attack Abubaker Tabula, Phillip Ssozi and James Odoch missed out.
Faced with such calamity, any team would feel their confidence dip but each of their deputies Noah Kasule, Alimansi Kadogo, Andrew Mwesigwa and Joseph Kabagambe nonetheless proved colossal, that Cape Verde had Ibrahim Mugisha’s gaffe to thank for their sole goal.
Ends